Kentucky football has three more players leaving

Sihiem King. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky added one signee to its 2019 recruiting class Wednesday but is losing three returning players who are transferring.

Running back Sihiem King’s departure is no surprise. He elected to redshirt rather than play in 2018 and now can play immediately as a grad transfer. He knew he was going to be behind Benny Snell last year and likely would have been behind A.J. Rose in 2019.

Courier-Journal beat writer Jon Hale also reported that linebacker Kengera Daniel has also left the team and can also play next year anywhere as a grad transfer. He had been expected to compete for the spot vacated by Josh Allen, the national defensive player of the year. However, UK returns sophomores Jordan Wright, Alex King and Chris Whittaker and also signed six outside linebackers in its 2019 class. So while Daniel will be missed, his loss is not insurmountable.

The other departure is junior cornerback Domonique Williams, a junior college transfer in 2018 who played in just one game.

That leaves Kentucky with nine seniors on the roster and at his press conference Wednesday the UK coach said additional attrition would be needed to open scholarships for UK’s 2020 recruiting class.

Of course, Kentucky could check the transfer portal and add a player or two that way if Stoops wanted.

“ That’s why it’s also good for a change to maybe have one or two scholarships out there and just see — number one, for us we don’t want to take somebody that we don’t feel can help take us to another level, and number two, we have a small class next year, and then the third thing would be transfer options, not that I’m actively out there seeking it, but it’s certainly going to happen both ways,” Stoops said.